WGI Unleashed Podcast: David Gerber, Project Manager
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie are back in our office to sit back down with David Gerber, Project Manager on our ! David is a two-time guest, a “two-peat” he happily likens to Steve Martin’s SNL record. Last time around, he got a little feedback for being too tight-lipped about his coworkers, so this time he came prepared to fix that, handing out shout-outs across thirteen years and five offices… From Miami to Lakeland David was born in Miami and lived there until he was about five, when Hurricane Andrew came through and cost his parents their jobs....
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Rachel Starck, Environmental Scientist
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head down to our corporate headquarters to sit down with Rachel Starck, Environmental Scientist! Rachel is a Florida native who grew up in Orlando with a childhood reputation for attracting wildlife, and a mother who gave her exactly the right career advice at exactly the right time. Two and a half years into her first job out of college, she's doing the work she set out to do... and loving every second of it. From Orlando to the Atlantic Coast Rachel grew up in Orlando, where both of her parents built long careers at Walt...
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Susanna Coleman, Administrative Assistant
WGI Unleashed
In the latest episode of the , hosts Dan and Katie head back to South Florida to sit down with Susanna Coleman, an Administrative Assistant in WGI’s ! Susanna’s story is one of curiosity, reinvention, and an unshakable love of learning. From the south side of Chicago to the shipyards of Scandinavia, Susanna has lived what she jokingly calls “several lives” — and each one has shaped the curious, people-loving teammate she is today. This is one conversation you won’t want to miss. From the South Side of Chicago to South Florida Born and raised in a tight-knit, blue-collar suburb...
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Kristen Nowicki, Senior Project Manager
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the , we head to Fort Lauderdale to catch up with Kristen Nowicki, Senior Project Manager on WGI’s team. From her early days climbing trees in Pennsylvania to helping shape communities across South Florida, Kristen’s story is equal parts thoughtful, driven, and refreshingly down to earth. We also learned one very important thing right away: she could eat pineapple pizza every day for the rest of her life. That might be the boldest take we’ve had on the podcast yet. From Tree Hugger to Planner Kristen’s path into planning was anything but linear, and it makes...
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Scott Jones, Technical Geospatial Solutions Manager
WGI Unleashed
At WGI, every associate brings a unique story to the table, but few start on a remote fishing island in Alaska and end up leading cutting-edge geospatial solutions across the country. In this episode of the , Dan and Katie sit down with Scott Jones, Technical Solutions Manager on our team, to talk about a career path shaped by adventure, curiosity, and a willingness to solve problems in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. A Childhood Built for Adventure Scott’s story begins in Petersburg, Alaska, a small fishing community where getting anywhere requires a boat or a plane...
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Jason Alvarez, Senior Operations Manager
WGI Unleashed
On the latest episode of the , we travel to WGI’s to sit down with Jason Alvarez, Senior Operations Manager for our group. In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie explore Jason’s 23-year journey at WGI, from starting in the field as a rod person to leading operations in one of the firm’s growing offices. His story highlights persistence, curiosity, and the impact of saying yes to opportunity. From Florida Roots to Geospatial Leadership Jason grew up in Central and South Florida, including time in Lake Wales, where he balanced football and marching band. Yes, marching band. And yes, there...
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Maria Acosta, Video Multimedia Editor
WGI Unleashed
On the latest episode of the , we head back to WGI's corporate headquarters in to sit down with Maria Acosta, Video Multimedia Editor! In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie take listeners behind the camera to spotlight Maria’s creative journey, the role she plays in shaping WGI’s multimedia content, and the passion she brings to telling stories through video. From her early artistic roots to her role producing podcasts, training videos, and campaign visuals, Maria’s story shows how curiosity, resilience, and creativity can lead to an exciting and impactful career at WGI. Early Creativity...
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Jill Mathison, Geospatial Administrator
WGI Unleashed
In the final episode of 2025, the heads to as hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Jill Mathison, a long-time member of WGI’s ! Jill’s story is one of persistence, adaptability, and wholehearted commitment. From her early days growing up on Long Island to helping shape WGI through years of growth and transformation, Jill’s journey reflects what it truly means to build a career with intention. From Long Island to South Florida Born in New York and raised on Long Island, Jill grew up surrounded by creativity and culture. Thanks to a mother who loved the arts, childhood trips into...
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Amanda Wojtasiak, Graduate Architect
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the , hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Amanda Wojtasiak, a Graduate Architect in our , whose path into the profession is anything but ordinary. Amanda brings a spark of creativity, a global childhood, and a love of learning to everything she touches, and this episode shines a light on the personality behind her growing design career at WGI. From living overseas to mastering artistic crafts to racing sailboats under the moonlight, Amanda’s story is filled with movement, energy, and curiosity. This episode offers a fun, vibrant look at one of the many talented young...
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Coleen Johnson, Director of Geospatial
WGI Unleashed
The October edition of the is officially here! Join us as we travel to , to chat with Coleen Johnson, RPLS, WGI’s Director of . Coleen’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for learning. From hand-drafting machine parts in Houston to leading cutting-edge geospatial teams at WGI, her journey proves that sometimes the best career paths are the ones you create yourself. From Small-Town Roots to the Lone Star State Coleen grew up in the rural town of Hannibal, New York, surrounded by rolling hills, dairy farms, and open skies. With four siblings, a farm-loving...
info_outlineOn the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we travel to WGI’s Huntsville, Alabama, office to sit down with Jason Alvarez, Senior Operations Manager for our Geospatial + Land Surveying group.
In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie explore Jason’s 23-year journey at WGI, from starting in the field as a rod person to leading operations in one of the firm’s growing offices. His story highlights persistence, curiosity, and the impact of saying yes to opportunity.
From Florida Roots to Geospatial Leadership
Jason grew up in Central and South Florida, including time in Lake Wales, where he balanced football and marching band. Yes, marching band. And yes, there were kilts involved.
Before surveying ever entered the picture, Jason thought he might become a computer programmer. He built computers in high school and enjoyed working with technology, but he quickly realized that sitting behind a screen all day was not for him. He wanted something that blended tech with the outdoors.
Enter surveying.
Through a family connection, Jason got his first exposure to the field. What began as data entry and CAD work turned into a genuine interest in geospatial technology. When an opportunity at WGI opened up, he took it and started as a rod person on a survey crew.
And that is where it all began.
Building a Career by Saying Yes
Jason did not map out a 20-plus-year plan. Instead, he leaned into every opportunity that came his way.
He asked to learn new equipment.
He stepped into office production.
He volunteered for projects.
He even spent two years working in IT to expand his technical skill set before returning to Geospatial.
If someone asked, “Can you do this?” Jason’s answer was usually, “Sure.”
That mindset helped shape his career. Over time, field experience turned into project management. Project management turned into operational leadership. Today, he oversees geospatial operations in Huntsville, bringing both technical expertise and years of institutional knowledge to the table.
Lessons from Brightline and Beyond
One of Jason’s most memorable projects was supporting the Brightline construction effort. Managing multiple crews operating seven days a week required coordination, adaptability, and the integration of advanced technology, including robotic total stations and monitoring systems.
It was a demanding assignment, but one that pushed him to grow both technically and as a leader.
Implementing new technologies, coordinating teams, and navigating the pace of construction taught him lessons that continue to shape how he leads today.
Watching WGI Grow
After 23 years, Jason has had a front-row seat to WGI’s evolution.
What started as a smaller firm focused primarily on land development has grown into a multidisciplinary powerhouse offering transportation, lidar, planning, architecture, and more. With that growth has come expanded opportunities, new technologies, and a broader range of projects.
Through it all, Jason says two things have remained constant: opportunity and people.
He credits WGI’s collaborative culture and the willingness of associates to help one another as the biggest reasons he has stayed. Whether learning a new system, tackling a complex project, or transitioning into leadership, there has always been someone willing to share knowledge and support the team.
Fun Facts and Family Time
Outside of work, Jason is a self-proclaimed big kid at heart. These days, most of his free time is spent with his two-and-a-half-year-old son building Lego sets and playing with toy trains.
He also shared a few memorable facts during the episode:
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He does not drink tea. Under any circumstances.
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He has never used the restroom on an airplane. Not even on a 14-hour international flight.
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Despite attending a Scottish-themed high school, he did not play the bagpipes.
You will have to tune in to hear the full stories behind those...
Tune In
Jason’s journey is a reminder that careers are not one-size-fits-all. Growth can happen through curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to step up when opportunity knocks.
If you are looking for a story about starting at the ground level and building a career through determination and adaptability, this episode is for you.
Listen to this episode of WGI Unleashed on your favorite podcast platform and stay tuned for more conversations with the people, projects, and culture that define WGI.
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